 |
| Homolodromia rajeevani
Padate, Cubelio & Jayachandran, 2020
|
ABSTRACT
Homolodromia rajeevani, a new species of deep-water homolodromiid sponge crab, is described from the northern Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea, depth 957 m, and Bay of Bengal, 645 m), and is the first record of the genus from the area. This species resembles the western Indian Ocean species, namely, Homolodromia bouvieri Doflein, 1904, in having 2 terminal spines on the propodi of the last two pereopods, but can be easily distinguished from the latter species by the inflated carapace, simple long setae on carapace and appendages, slender pseudo-rostral spines separated by a U-shaped base, and a slender arched dactylus of cheliped with maximum elevation at proximal part which bears broadly circular depressions with sparse setae. The most diagnostic character is the higher number of spines on the occlusal surfaces of propodal thumbs and dactyli of the pseudochela of the last two pereopods as compared to H. bouvieri. A key for the identification of the species under the genus Homolodromia is also provided.
KEYWORDS: Homolodromia, taxonomy, new species, northern Indian Ocean, deep-water
 |
| Colour in life. Homolodromia rajeevani sp. nov., holotype male (IO/SS/BRC/00174). |
Family Homolodromiidae Alcock, 1899
Genus Homolodromia A. Milne-Edwards, 1880
Homolodromia A. Milne-Edwards, 1880: 32.
Type
species: Homolodromia paradoxa A. Milne-Edwards,
1880 by monotypy.
Homolodromia rajeevani sp. nov.
Etymology: The specific epithet rajeevani is in honour of the distinguished scientist and Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Dr. Madhavan Nair Rajeevan who has been the guiding force in the deep-sea research programmes of CMLRE.
Vinay P. Padate, Sherine Sonia Cubelio and K. V. Jayachandran. 2020. Description of A New Species of Deep-water Crab of the Genus Homolodromia A. Milne-Edwards, 1880 from the northern Indian Ocean (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Homolodromiidae). Marine Biology Research. DOI: 10.1080/17451000.2020.1735641 k
